New York Workers' Comp SLU Calculator
If you sustained a permanent injury to an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger, or toe on the job, you may be entitled to a lump-sum Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) award. Use our interactive calculator to estimate your payout.
Enter total wage replacement checks paid to you while you were off work. These will be deducted from your final SLU lump sum.
NYS SLU Settlement Math
Calculated based on NYS WCB rules
$60,400
Estimates depend on permanent impairment ratings certified by authorized doctors.
New York Workers' Comp Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) Guide
In New York State, workers who suffer permanent injuries to limbs, fingers, toes, vision, or hearing are eligible for a cash award known as a Schedule Loss of Use (SLU). This award represents a lump-sum compensation for the permanent loss of earning capacity caused by your physical impairment.
How the New York SLU Calculation and Formula Works
The NYS workers' comp system applies a statutory mathematical formula to determine your final payout amount. The formula uses three core factors:
This gross award represents the maximum amount payable for your specific extremity injury. Under NYS law, the insurance carrier is allowed to deduct any prior temporary disability benefits (TDR) paid to you while you were off work recovering. This ensures that wage replacements are not paid twice for the same period.
Understanding the Calculator Input Fields
- Injured Body Part: Selection determines the maximum weeks allowed by law. Extremities like arms or legs carry more weeks than digits like thumbs or toes.
- Date of Injury (Rate Caps): The maximum weekly benefit rate is capped under NYS law based on the fiscal period (July 1 to June 30) in which the accident occurred. For instance, the maximum rate cap for July 2025 to June 2026 is set at $1,171.46 per week.
- Pre-Accident Average Weekly Wage (AWW): Computed by taking your total earnings in the 52 weeks prior to the crash and dividing by 52. The benefit rate is 2/3 (66.67%) of this AWW, up to the statutory cap.
- Physician's Loss of Use Rating (%): Once you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), your doctor will evaluate your joint flexibility, muscle loss, or surgical outcomes and assign a percentage representing your permanent impairment rating.
- Temporary Disability Payouts Received: Any prior weekly checks paid to you while you were out of work. These act as an advance and are subtracted from the final lump sum.
Worked Settlement Examples
You suffer a crush injury to your thumb. Your AWW is $900. Your physician certifies a 20% SLU. You received $1,200 in temporary benefits while treating.
- Thumb Max Weeks: 75 Weeks
- Awarded Weeks: 75 × 20% = 15 Weeks
- Weekly Rate: 2/3 × $900 = $600 / week
- Gross SLU Award: 15 weeks × $600 = $9,000
- Temporary Benefit Deduction: -$1,200
- Final Net Lump Sum Check: $7,800
You undergo knee surgery following a work crash. Your AWW is $2,100. Injury occurs in October 2025. Your doctor certifies a 40% leg loss. You received $8,000 in TTD benefits.
- Leg Max Weeks: 288 Weeks
- Awarded Weeks: 288 × 40% = 115.2 Weeks
- Raw Weekly Rate: 2/3 × $2,100 = $1,400 (exceeds cap)
- Capped Weekly Rate: $1,171.46 / week (Statutory cap)
- Gross SLU Award: 115.2 weeks × $1,171.46 = $134,952.19
- Temporary Benefit Deduction: -$8,000
- Final Net Lump Sum Check: $126,952.19
NYS Workers' Comp Schedule Loss of Use Chart
The statutory table below shows the maximum weeks of compensation assigned to each body part under New York State law:
| Body Part | Max Weeks of Compensation (100% Loss) |
|---|---|
| Arm | 312 Weeks |
| Leg | 288 Weeks |
| Hand | 244 Weeks |
| Foot | 205 Weeks |
| Eye (Vision) | 160 Weeks |
| Thumb | 75 Weeks |
| First (Index) Finger | 46 Weeks |
| Second (Middle) Finger | 30 Weeks |
| Third (Ring) Finger | 25 Weeks |
| Fourth (Little) Finger | 15 Weeks |
| Great Toe | 38 Weeks |
| Other Toes (each) | 16 Weeks |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I receive an SLU award if I injured my back or neck?
No. In New York, the spine (neck, upper, and lower back), brain, heart, and lungs are classified as "non-schedule" injuries. Compensation for these injuries is not based on a week-based body part chart. Instead, it is paid as ongoing weekly benefits determined by your loss of wage-earning capacity (LWEC).
Can I return to work after getting a Schedule Loss of Use check?
Yes. Because an SLU award represents compensation for the permanent loss of functional use of a member rather than temporary lost time, you can receive your full SLU payout even if you return to your job at full pay.
How do prior payments affect my final SLU payout?
Any temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) wage replacement benefits you received while you were recovering and unable to work are treated as an advance on your final SLU award. They are deducted dollar-for-dollar from your final lump-sum check. If the prior payments exceed the total SLU award, you will not receive an additional payout (but you will not have to pay anything back).
What if the insurance doctor assigns a lower rating than my treating doctor?
This is extremely common. The insurance carrier's Independent Medical Examiner (IME) will often assign a lower impairment percentage. In these cases, a Workers' Compensation Law Judge will hold a hearing, evaluate the deposition transcripts, and either split the difference or rule in favor of the more credible medical report.
Is a NYS Workers' Comp SLU award taxable?
No. Under federal IRS guidelines, workers' compensation benefit payments and lump-sum SLU settlements are 100% tax-free at both the federal and state level.
Can I sue my employer in NY civil court instead?
Generally, no. Workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy for work-related injuries under New York law, meaning you cannot sue your employer for negligence. However, you can bring a third-party lawsuit if your injury was caused by a negligent third party (such as a manufacturer of defective equipment or a separate subcontractor at a job site).